Tagging machine

ABSTRACT

Hang-tags are frequently attached to cloth garments by means of a hand-operated bar-lock-dispensing assembly which deposits a bar-lock attachment intermediate the cloth and the tag. Apparatus automating this process comprises a traditional bar-lockdispensing assembly supported for movement through a reciprocal power stroke and a reciprocating tag feed assembly including a tag storage bin. The bar-lock dispenser and the tag feed assembly are powered by a combined power and timing system which positions a tag beneath the dispensing assembly prior to the insertion of a bar-lock.

United States Patent 3.021054 3/1962 Clemensetal. 3,103,666 9/1963 BonePrimary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-E. F. DesmondAMomey-Amster & Rothstein ABSTRACT: Hang-tags are frequently attached tocloth garments by means of a hand-operated bar-lock-dispensing assemblywhich deposits a bar-lock attachment intermediate the cloth and the tag.Apparatus automating this process comprises a traditionalbar-lock-dispensing assembly supported for movement through a reciprocalpower stroke and a reciprocating tag feed assembly including a tagstorage bin. The bar-lock dispenser and the tag feed assembly arepowered by a combined power and timing system which positions a tagbeneath the dispensing assembly prior to the insertion of a bar-lock.

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INVENTOR ABE COTTON ATTORN EYS TAGGING MACHINE This invention relatesgenerally to apparatus for attaching hang-tags and more specifically toautomated apparatus for attaching a hang-tag to a section of material bymeans of a barlock tag attachment.

Bar-lock attachments of the type herein discussed are well known in thegarment industry; U.S. Pat. No. 3,I03,666issued' Sept. 17, I963 to A.R.Bone discloses atypical bar-lock attachment and a traditionalhand-operated device for inserting the bar-lock attachment ina sectionof fabric. Hand-operated devices such as that disclosed in the Bonepatent have been found inadequate in a commercial environment wherethousands of tags must be attachedby a'single operator daily sincehand-powered use of this device quickly leads to operator fatigue.Additionally, hand-poweredapplication of hangtags requires the tag to beprinted in a separate operation. There is thus a need for automaticapparatus for applying barlock attachments, and for apparatus which iscapable ofperforming several functions.

It is thus a primary object'ofthe present inventionto expeditiouslyattach hang-tags to-fabrics by means of bar-lock attachments, thusmaking application of such tags faster, easier and less costly. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a bar-lock tagging machinewhich is fast and insures operator safety during the tagging process. Arelated=objectof the invention is the provision of means forautomatically delivering a tag from storage to an appropriatelocation-adjacenta barlock-attaching assembly in propertime sequence forbar-lock attachment to a section of fabric. It is also an object oftheinvention to combine bar-lock attachment'of hang-tags with printing orother preparation of-hang-tags in a single opera tron.

A tagging machine demonstrating'the objects and features of the presentinvention comprises apparatus for attaching a tag to a section ofmaterial and a reciprocating tag feed assembly, including a tag storagebin, for delivering individual tags from the storage bin. to apositionin the path of said attaching apparatus. The tagging machine includespower and timing means interconnecting the attaching apparatus and thereciprocating tag feed assembly-for regulating the motion of theattaching apparatus and the tag feed assembly so that a tag ispositioned in the path of the attaching apparatus prior to attachment.

The above brief description aswell as furtherobjects, fea-: tures andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of an illustrativeembodiment in accordance with the present invention, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tagging machine constructed in accordancewith the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line 2-2'in FIG. I andshowing the tag feed assembly and the bar-lock dispensing assembly intheir rest positions;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view'taken along line 3-3 inFlG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectionalview similar to FIG. 2, but'showing the tagfeed assembly in its withdrawn-position'and' the bar-lock dispensingassembly in its insertedposition;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the taggingmachine, partially brokenaway;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the pneumatic power and controlsystem;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bar-lock being inserted by a slottedneedle;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view ofa bar-lock attachment in final position.

Referring now to the drawing; there is generally shown a tagging machine10 means of a bar-lock attachmcntof the type shown in FIGS; 7 and 8.Such bar-lock attachments have been widely used for which applieshang-tags to material-by displaying pric'eor other merchandise indiciain conjunction with cloth garments or other cloth goods. Suchattachments haveb'een found to be convenient and inexpensive to use.

The bar-lock attachment itself, as best seen in FIG. 8, comprises aplastic filament I4 having an enlarged plastic button I6 at one endthereof and a transverse locking bar I8 at the other end thereof. Thisattachment is preferably an integral structure formed of flexiblematerial such as nylon, with the filament being made as thin as possibleconsistent with the strength of the material used. Filament I4 isadapted to be inserted' through a hang-tag 20 and a section of clothgoods 22, with the button- I6 and the locking bar 18 effectivelyprecluding separation of the tag from goods. Such bar-lock attachmentsand hand-operating dispensing apparatus for inserting th'em'in positionare disclosed in the Bone patent referred to above.

A bar-lock dispensing assembly 26, similar to that disclosed in theabovereferred-to Bone patent, is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 andforms oneelement'of the tagging machine described and claimed herein. Thedispensing apparatus will not be described hcre in detail except toindicate, generally, that this dispensing assembly was originallydesigned to be hand held for manualinscrtion'of bar-lock attachments andcomprises a slotted needle 24 and first and second driving arms, 28 and30, operatively arranged to ejecta bar-lock attachment when the arms arecompressed together against the action of return spring 32. It will beunderstood from'FlG. 7 that the bar-lock attachments are dispensedthrough slotted needle 24 which internally'carries the bar I8andfilament 14 of the bar-lock attachment compressed in parallel position.The needle is adaptedto be inserted through a tag 20 and goods 22 andthe bar-lock is forcedfrom' the needle by a ram internal todispensingassembly 26, thereby depositing the bar-lock attachmentinposition as the needle is withdrawn.

Broadly, tagging machine 10 comprises a chassis 34 having a work surface36 at the forward end of its upper surface, and a dispensing assembly 26carried by support arm 38 through a reciprocal vertical power strokewith respect to work surface 36 from a lower rest position to an upperinserted position. The tagging machine is additionally provided with areciprocating tag feed assembly generally designated 40, best seen inFIGS. Zand 4, adapted to deliver a tag from a tag storage bin '42 to aposition on work surface 36 in the path of needle 24. It is to beunderstood thatcloth goods are positione'djby an operator above worksurface 36, as seen in FIG. I; and that the operator then activates thetagging machine by depressing trigger valves 44, raising dispensingassembly 26 ,and insertingthe slotted needle 24 in the tag and thegoods. As

thedispensing assembly descends to its rest position, tag feedassembly40 delivers a new tagso that the apparatus is in readypositi'onto receive another garment and repeat the process.

Ref'rringnow in detail to the construction and operation of the taggingmachine, the bar-lock-dispensing assembly 26 is secured by a 'clamp 46'to transverse reciprocating support arm 38'. Arm38is guided for verticalreciprocal movement by a vertical draw-slide 50 including a U-shapedouter casing 50a and a slideably mounted inner slide-bar 50b. Verticaldrawslide 50is similar to horizontal draw-slide 66, shown in crosssectionin FIG. 3,'whichis described hereinafter in connection withtheoperation of tag feed assembly 40. Both draw-slides are constructed in amanner well known in the art.

Support arm 38 is rigidly secured to inner slide-bar 50b at points 48and arm 38'and bar 50 b' are driven by a principal pneumatic drivingcylinder 58." Pneumatic cylinder 58 is of wellknown construction andincludes a pneumatic casing 580 having input and output ports 58c and58d and an internal pistonsecured to 'an'extending drive-rod 58b. Rod58!) is fastened at point 62 to arm 38 and drives arm 38 through itsvertical power stroke.

During'tlie upward phase of the power stroke of arm 38, needle 24 isinserted into tag-20 and goods 22. At the same time, the driving arms 28and 30 ofdispensing assembly 26 are compressed together by curved plate64 so that a bar-lock attachmcnt is dispensed while needle 24 isinserted in the tag and cloth goods The operation of curved plate 64will be appreciated by comparison of FIGS 2 and 4. showing thedispensing assembly in its lowermost and uppermost positionsrespectively. It will be understood that as arm 38 ascends, curved plate64 bears against the finger loop on arm 28 forc ing arm 28 toward arm 30against the force of return springs 32. The position and angle of curvedplate 64 is selected so that the proper dispensing position is achievedwhile the slotted needle 24 is within the tag and goods located at worksurface 36.

For operator safety, the tagging machine is provided with a needle guard76 supported by arm 78 (both shown partially broken away) which isbolted to the upper surface of chassis 34 adjacent work surface 36.Guard 76 comprises a cylindrical tube adapted to receive needle 24 as itprotrudes upward through goods 22. Guard 76 is located sufficientlyabove work surface 36 to permit easy insertion of the goods but closeenough to work surface 36 to prevent an operator from inadvertentlypositioning his hand in the path of needle 24. Guard 76 also serves toindicate the position at which the operator can expect needle 24 toemerge from the goods and hence the position at which the bar-lock willbe attached.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention is further provided witha reciprocating tag feed assembly 40, best seen in operative relation toreciprocating support arm 38 in FIGS. 2 and 4. The reciprocating tagfeed assembly is adapted to deliver a single tag from tag storage bin 42to a position on work surface 36 in the path of slotted needle 24. Inaccordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, tagfeed assembly 40 delivers a tag to the work su rfacc as needle 24withdraws from goods 22 and tag at the end of the dispensing assemblyspower stroke, thus preparing the equipment for the next tag attachment.

The reciprocating tag feed assembly 40 generally comprises a horizontaldraw-slide 66 mounted beneath the upper surface of chassis 34 below anelongated slot 80. Horizontal drawslide 66 includes a U-shaped outercasing 660 and an inner slide bar 66!) mounted on ball bearings 66c forsliding movement between a withdrawn position shown in FIG. 4 and indotted lines in FIG. 2 and an advanced position shown in solid lines inFIG. 2. Bar- 66d mounted on slide 6612 carries upward opening suctionnozzle 74 which travels beneath the slotted cutout 80 from a withdrawnposition beneath tag storage bin 42 to an advanced position adjacentwork surface 36. Suction nozzle 74 is an upward opening rubber cone andis connected at its lower end through hollow conduit 82 to a vacuum tube84 which in turn connects to a vacuum source (not shown). Slide bar 660'is driven between its forward and withdrawn positions by a horizontalpneumatic cylinder 86 which is secured at one end to support brace 88 bybolt 90. Cylinder 86, like cylinder 58, includes an internal piston withan extending piston shaft 86b, and input and output pneumatic ducts 86cand d. Shaft 86b is in turn secured by member 92 to slide bar 66b ofdraw-slide 66.

When slide bar 66d and hence suction nozzle 74 is in its withdrawnposition beneath tag storage bin 42, suction through nozzle 74 engagesthe lowermost tag in bin 42. As slide 66b advances, nozzle 74 carriesthe lowermost tag from its storage position in bin 42 to a position onwork surface 36 in the path of needle 24. FIG. 4 shows suction nozzle 74in its withdrawn position engaging the lowermost tag in bin 42, and FIG.2 shows nozzle 74 in its advanced position with tag 20 in its restposition in the path of needle 24.

To insure that only one tag at a time is removed from bin 42, theforward end of the bin is provided with an adjustable retaining rod 94which protrudes downward through a support brace 96 adjacent the forwardlower lip of bin 42. The height of retaining rod 94 may be adjusted bysetscrew 100 which is threaded in brace I02 and is preferably adjustedso as to leave clearance for only a single tag intermediate nozzle 74and the lower edge of rod 94.

In order to adapt bin 42 to receive tags of different dimensions, thebin is provided with adjustable side and rear alignment walls "Ma andI04li respectively. To permit the alignment walls to be adjusted. thefixed forward and sidewalls I080 and I08!) respectively of bin 42, whichare secured to the upper surface of chassis 36 by braces III), includeslotted cu touts H24: and II2h. The adjustable retaining walls eachinclude guide members H411 and I I4!) which overlay the upper edge offixed walls 108a and I08!) and which include setscrews [16a and I16!)adapted to secure the alignment walls in any selected position alongcutouts "Zn and II2b. Thus, tags 22 are deposited in bin 42 with theirforward edges adjacent forward wall 108a and their side edges adjacentwall l08b. Walls 104a and 104!) are then moved into position adjacentthe rear and side edges of tags 20 and are secured in position, thusretaining tags 20 in proper alignment. This adjustable feature permitstags of different sizes to be used in the tagging machine.

It is to be understood that both the main reciprocating sup port arm 38,carrying inserting assembly 26, and the horizontal slide bar 66,carrying suction cup 74, are powered by a single pneumatic systemdescribed in greater detail hereafter, which is operatively arranged toestablish proper timing for delivery of a tag to a position on worksurface 36 in the path of needle 24 prior to the completion of eachpower stroke. The pneumatic system, shown schematically in FIG, 6, isoperatively arranged to drive both the tag feed assembly and thereciprocating support arm and comprises a single air inlet path I I8which divides into three separate branches, I20, I24, and I26.

'lhc uppermost branch I20 directs air under pressure to drive thereciprocating tag feed assembly 40 by means of tag feed cylinder 86. Airpressure is applied to cylinder 86 through a reversing valve 122, seenin actual position in FIGS. 2 and 4. Valve I22 comprises a pneumaticcylinder I22a having input port I22b, first and second output ports I22cand I22d, and a pair of vent ports I22e and 122], Valve I22 furtherincludes a protruding pin 122g which extends downwardly over support arm38, When valve I22 is in its normal or rest position, shown in FIG. 6,air pressure applied to input port I221; is directed through output port1220 to input port 860 of cylinder 86, thus driving the piston internalto cylinder 86 and slide-bar 66b to their forward or rest position.Excess pressure in cylinder 86 vents through output port 8611, throughport 122d in valve 122, and out vent port I22f When depending pin 122 isforced upward by the upward movement of arm 38, the direction of flow ofair in valve 122 is reversed, and air from input port I22b flows to port122d, and into cylinder 86 through port 86d, driving arm 66b to itswithdrawn position. In this configuration, excess pressure in cylinder86 vents through port 86c into port 1226 and out vent port l22e.

In operation, slide bar 66b is normally maintained in its extendedforward position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. In this position,suction nozzle 74 maintains an attached tag adjacent work surface 36,with the tag extending over the edge of chassis 34 and into the path ofneedle 24. When support arm 38 rises, carrying the bar-lock-insertingdevice into its upper position, needle 24 is inserted into the tag. Asarm 38 continues to rise, plate 380 strikes head 122] on the downwardlyprojecting pin 122g reversing the flow of air through valve 122 andwithdrawing slide bar 66b from its forward position to a positionbeneath tag storage bin 42 where nozzle 74 engages a tag. As support arm38 descends in the second phase of its power stroke, plate 380 releasespin 122g and the flow of air through ,valve I22 is again reversed,driving slide bar 66b back to its valve 122 in that pin 128g, whichreverses the direction of flow of air in the valve, is pneumaticallyoperated by cylinder 130 so that when air is applied to input port 130a,valve 128 drives arm 38 to its upper position in the same manner asdescribed in connection with valve-1'22. When no pressure is applied toport 1300, valve l28-is--in its normal position as shown and arm 38 ismaintained in its-lower or rest position.

ln order to insure safe operation of the'tagging machine, air is appliedto port 130a of cylinder 130 via two trigger valves 44 connectedtogether in series with regard to the third branch 126 of the pneumaticsystem. Valves 44 each include an input port 44a and an output port 44band are adapted to conduct air from 44a to 44b when pin 440 isdepressed. The location of trigger valves 44 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and5. in the operation of this portion of the pneumatic system, air isconstantly applied to a first of the trigger valves 44. Because triggervalves 44 are connected together in series, both valves must bedepressed simultaneously before air pressure will flow into cylinder130. Arm 38 thus will not begin its power stroke until both triggervalves are depressed. As seen in FIG. 1, trigger valves 44 arepositioned apart so that the operator requires both hands to maintainboth valves depressed. This insures operator's safety in that itrequires the operator to have one hand on each trigger valve and thusout of the path of needle 24 for the power stroke to be initiated.

The operation of valves 122, 128, 44, and 134a and b has" not beendescribed in detail since pneumatic valves serving the functionsdescribed are well known in the art.

it should be apparent from the above that both the support arm 38 andreciprocating tag feed slide bar 66b are driven from a single pneumaticsource. In order to adjust the respective timing of these tworeciprocating systems, the two principal branches, 120 and 124, of thepneumatic system are provided with adjustable valves, 134a and 1341)respectively, which may be gradually opened and closed andmaintained atany desired intermediate condition. These valves are employed becausethe air pressure in these branches is directly related to the speed withwhich each of the elements of the system moves. Thus if valve [34b isopened to its fullest, the principal support arm38 will be driven veryrapidly upward when trigger valves 44 are both depressed. Conversely, ifvalve l34b is partially closed, the speed with which arm 38 ascends willbe reduced. The same control is effective in connection with theoperation of reciprocating tag feed slide-bar 66b. Hence, by adjustingthe relative settings of valves l34a and 134b, the relative speeds ofthe support arm 38 and slide bar 66b can be controlled, for example, toinsure that a tag is not delivered to work surface 36 before needle 24has descended sufficiently to be clear of that location.

From time to time it may be desirable to operate the reciprocal tag feedassembly manually without initiating a power stroke of thebar-lockdispensing assembly 26. To ac complish this, the apparatus isprovided with a manual tag feed lever [36 pivotally secured to asidewall of chassis 34. The interior end of lever 136 is positioned toengage depending pin 122g of reversing valve 122 so that downwardpressure applied to the external portion of lever 136 forces pin 122gupward and activates reversing valve 122. By depressing arm 136, anadditional tag can be automatically delivered from the tag storage bin42 to the work surface 36. This feature s useful if the apparatus shouldmalfunction or if a tag is manually removed from the machine for anyreason.

In addition to automating the bar-lock attachment of hangtags, thepresent invention provides several important new capabilities inconnection with the attachment of hang-tags to garments. For example, apreferred embodiment of the present apparatus includes an automaticprinter 96, best seen in FIG. 5, powered by support arm 38 forimprinting price or other product information on the hang-tagsimultaneous with the attachment of the hang-tag to the goods.

As seen in H6. 5, the printer comprises a self-inking stamp pad 140, ofatype well known in the art, supported on rod I44 and retained by wingnut [46 on an inverted L-shapcd support I pin 150 on support arm I54.Arm 142 is linked at the-righthand end of pivotal bar 148, and theleft-hand end of bar "148 is secured to support arm 38. Thus, as arm 38rises in the initial phase of its power stroke, pivotal bar 148 pivotsclockwise, drawing arm 142 downward and bringing stamp in contact with atag at work surface 36. As arm 38 descends in the second phase of itspower stroke, printing arm I42 rises into ready position. This featureof applicant's invention provides a very substantial saving of time andeffort in connection with the attachment of price and other indicia togarments. It is to be understood that the tagging machine mayconveniently be mounted on an appropriate cart or rolling frame and maybe moved to the goods, rather than having the goods moved to theapparatus. When the printer is included in the apparatus, this permitsprinting and attachment of price of other product indicia in a singleoperation at the normal location of the goods and thus provides asignificant saving in time and handling.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are merelyexamples of the application of the principals of the present invention.Other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it isto be understood that other attaching methods such as sewing, staplingor gluing could be employed in place of the bar-lock described hereinand that more than one tag feed assembly may be employed to automate theattachment of two tags simultaneously.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for affixing a hang-tag to a section of material by meansof a bar-lock attachment, said apparatus comprising a dispensingassembly having a slotted needle adapted to pierce said tag and saidsection of material to deposit said barlock attachment in positioninterconnecting said tag and said section of material, support meanscarrying said dispensing assembly through an operative power stroke forinsertion of said slotted needle in said tag and said material, meansfor ejecting a bar-lock attachment when said slotted needle is insertedwithin said tag and material, at least one reciprocating tag feedassembly including a tag storage bin for delivering individual tags fromsaid storage bin to a position in the path of said slotted needle forreceiving said bar-lock attachment, and power and timing meansinterconnecting said support means and said reciprocating tag feedassembly for regulating motion of said support means and said tag feedassembly so that a tag is positioned in the path of said needle prior toinsertion of said needle.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating tag feedassembly comprises a longitudinal guide track extending from beneathsaid tag storage bin to a rest position in the path of said slottedneedle and a reciprocating feed bar adapted to travel'within said guidetrack between said storage bin and said rest position, said feed barincluding means for engaging one of said tags in said tag storage bin sothat the longitudinal movement of said feed bar within said guidetransports one of said tags from said storage bin to said rest position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for engaging saidtag comprises a vacuum source and a vacuum channel extending from saidvacuum source to a suction aperture associated with said feed bar.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said tag storage bin includesadjustable retaining means adapted to engage all but one of said tags insaid tag storage bin to retain said tags in said storage bin against theaction of said reciprocating feed bar.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said power and timing systemcomprises a pneumatic tag feed cylinder for driving said feed barthrough a reciprocal feed stroke, a

reversing valve associated with said tag feed cylinder for reversing thedirection of said feed bar in response to the assage of said support armthrough a preselected portion of said power stroke so that said feed baris driven to a retracted position as said slotted needle approaches saidtag rest posilion.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim wherein said power-time ing systemfurther includes a pneumatic drive cylinder engaging said support meansfor driving said support means through said power stroke, control means,and a reversing valve associated with said drive cylinder and adapted toreverse the

1. Apparatus for affixing a hang-tag to a section of material by meansof a bar-lock attachment, said apparatus comprising a dispensingassembly having a slotted needle adapted to pierce said tag and saidsection of material to deposit said bar-lock attachment in positioninterconnecting said tag and said section of material, support meanscarrying said dispensing assembly through an operative power stroke forinsertion of said slotted needle in said tag and said material, meansfor ejecting a barlock attachment when said slotted needle is insertedwithin said tag and material, at least one reciprocating tag feedassembly including a tag storage bin for delivering individual tags fromsaid storage bin to a position in the path of said slotted needle forreceiving said bar-lock attachment, and power and timing meansinterconnecting said support means and said reciprocating tag feedassembly for regulating motion of said support means and said tag feedassembly so that a tag is positioned in the path of said needle prior toinsertion of said needle.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid reciprocating tag feed assembly comprises a longitudinal guidetrack extending from beneath said tag storage bin to a rest position inthe path of said slotted needle and a reciprocating feed bar adapted totravel within said guide track between said storage bin and said restposition, said feed bar including means for engaging one of said tags insaid tag storage bin so that the longitudinal movement of said feed barwithin said guide transports one of said tags from said storage bin tosaid rest position.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmeans for engaging said tag comprises a vacuum source and a vacuumchannel extending from said vacuum source to a suction apertureassociated with said feed bar.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3wherein said tag storage bin includes adjustable retaining means adaptedto engage all but one of said tags in said tag storage bin to retainsaid tags in said storage bin against the action of said reciprocatingfeed bar.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said power andtiming system comprises a pneumatic tag feed cylinder for driving saidfeed bar through a reciprocal feed stroke, a reversing valve associatedwith said tag feed cylinder for reversing the direction of said feed barin response to the passage of said support arm through a preselectedportion of said power stroke so that said feed bar is driven to aretracted position as said slotted needle approaches said tag restposition.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said power-timingsystem further includes a pneumatic drive cylinder engaging said supportmeans for driving said support means through said power stroke, controlmeans, and a reversing valve associated with said drive cylinder andadapted to reverse the direction of said reciprocating support arm inresponse to activation of said control means.
 7. Apparatus as defined inclaim 6 wherein said control means comprises two hand-operated switchingdevices connected in series with respect to said reversing valve so thatboth devices must be activated simultaneously to activate said reversingvalve, said switches being spaced apart sufficiently that an operatormust employ both hands to activate said two switches thus insuring thatthe operator''s hands are not in the path of said needle during saidpower stroke.